Painting a Dog Portrait - Part 2
The second instalment of this portrait’s story, where I dive into the oil paints! Watch how the painting starts to build in depth and detail.
Welcome to the second part in this dog portrait mini series, where I’m diving into the oil paints!
This video is a spliced summary of several sessions, where I worked up the tones, colour and detail gradually, usually leaving a few days in between each session for things to dry.
I favour using big sheets of tracing paper for a palette, where I can really spread out and mix up the colours I need.
In part three I will try and do a little overview of all the equipment I use. Here you’ll eyespy a few things, my trusty painting stick being one of them, which really helps steady the hand for fine detail.
The commission brief requested that Tussock’s name be featured in the painting, allowing me the perfect opportunity to play with a beautiful formula, I’ve long admired, often seen in the 16th century portraits of Hans Holbein the Younger.
Stay tuned for the final stages in part 3, where I walk you through the varnishing, framing, packing and posting!
Painting a Dog Portrait - Part 1
Discover how I get going on a dog portrait in oil on canvas. Walking you through part 1 of the journey with this painting of a beautiful dog called Tussock.
How I begin an oil painting…
There's been a lot going on behind the scenes over the last few months.
I've been working on a number of projects and I’m finally getting round to sharing them!
Kicking things off with this portrait of Tussock. For those of you more familiar with my digital paintings of animals, I thought it would be nice to walk you through what I do with an oil painting.
So here we are, Part 1 - mapping out the foundations of the portrait in acrylic. Why acrylic? because it dries super quickly. In part 2 you will see me moving into oils - which I much prefer!
More updates, coming soon! For now wishing you all a super weekend!
Smash Hits
Smash Hits, is a happy dose of Grayson Perry magic! Read about my visit to his all bells & whistles retrospective at the Royal Scottish Academy.
Funny, clever, beautifully crafted and full of punch! Say hello to Grayson Perry's riveting retrospective 'Smash Hits' at the Royal Scottish Academy!
I was lucky enough to see it last weekend on a special hop up to Edinburgh. Encompassing a plethora of mediums: pots, sculptures, bright and brilliant tapestries, huge woodblock prints and sketchbooks, Each piece takes you on a journey into the artist's mind, 'designed to mystify as much as explain.'
Grayson Perry's visual language has both an honesty and quality that, for me at least, invites an instant rapport. He isn't afraid to confront contradictions & confusion. He completely embraces a sense of the ridiculousness, and in doing so often grapples with the profound. Underpinning all, is a sophisticated sense of design, and consummate skill in how to tell a story.
I remember listening avidly to Perry's Reith lectures in 2013, where he likened the journey of young artists to choosing a bus route. No matter what the provocation or temptation to change, he emphasized the importance of sticking with it and staying your course. This is something that continues to deeply resonate with me 10 years on, with all the inevitable doubts and challenges that come up in being an artist. It is what inspired my painting 'I know where I'm going' a declaration of intent to stay my own path, albeit with frequent feelings of facing the opposite direction!
Thank you Grayson Perry for giving me a much needed dose of your lively wisdom and good humour. I always feel re-invigorated after seeing your work with a renewed sense of purpose and trust in myself.
Thank you also to the Royal Scottish Academy for putting on a beautifully curated show, which is on until the 12th November - so go and see it if you find yourself in Edinburgh! Click the button below for full details.